Mae ends up being Joe’s caretaker, much to his surprise (“I would never have imagined Mae as the caring type” – p. 47). Do you think this side of her was always buried within, or did she change over time? Why do you believe this?
I’m not sure Mae was so much caring as practical. She seemed much more realistic than her siblings throughout the book, and I think she just saw something that needed to be done so she did it.
Mae was always caring to her siblings. She just kept a level head, with much wisdom. She always approached a problem or issue to the true source of the problem, instead of the reactions and resulting side effects. She did care about both, but she knew that it would not solve the problem with going to the source. She was wise and caring, and always loyal and truthful. Very patient. She may not have shown her sympathy (empathy) as some would expected. But she loved, supported and cared about her siblings, more than other people.
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Great comment, @Tonyia_Robinson. I completely agree.
Mae was the “worker bee” in the family. She wasn’t “warm and fuzzy” - most worker bees aren’t. Like Martha and Mary in the bible. I never like that Jesus stood up for Mary in that passage. “She has chosen the better part.” Really, who’s doing all the work? What are you going to eat when you’re done talking?
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Mae was my favorite character in the book. She was practical, and wise beyond her years. Mae’s style of caring was from the school of hard knocks- I’ll be by your side when you need me but I won’t enable you; I’ll help you get up but I won’t carry you on my back.
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I think Tonyia summed it up best. She was very level headed, and that sometimes hides a persons caring side.
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I completely agree, that story has always bothered me too!
I never saw her as uncaring, but someone who showed her caring in action, not words. Her actions were always responsive to what the situation called for, what others needed—and genuine. Much like her mother.
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I think Mae was caring but not emotional like Joe. She was there for her family and may have seemed harsh to him when she was trying to get him to do the right thing.
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Mae was older and more mature when she became Joe’s caretaker. Her own children were grown so she sold her home and moved back in with the family. I think Mae cared for her family and this was her way of showing them she cared about them. Her own mother was older by this time and needed Mae’s help. I think Mae was taking more matriarch responsibility in her family. I think it is partly how Indian people lived, the caring of family members was the mothers and daughters responsibility.
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That’s a very interesting point about Mae taking on the role of matriarch, which is a point I had not thought about. This makes me think a bit differently about Mae with regard to the woman she chose to become.
Mae was the oldest daughter and the oldest tends to take over care of the family members when needed. I think she changed over time - as she got older and saw the needs of her family, she stepped up to help.
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